Client Offerings & Billing

The Centre of Excellence provides three core service offerings designed to meet the diverse needs of technology teams and independent developers. Each offering features transparent pricing and clear value propositions.

1. Ticket-Based Support Retainer

Summary

A structured monthly retainer providing access to expert technical support through a ticket-based allocation system. Ideal for small and mid-sized teams that need reliable, high-quality support without committing to full-time hires.

Billing Model

• Monthly fee: $800 per client
• Ticket allocation: $680 value per month
• Margin: $120 per client (15%)

How It Works

1. Clients purchase a monthly retainer of $800
2. Each client receives a $680 ticket allocation
3. Support tickets are drawn down from the allocation based on effort and complexity
4. All tickets are resolved by qualified Guild members and rated by clients
5. Complex or sensitive issues can be escalated to senior reviewers
6. Escalated sessions may include recorded RDP sessions for transparency and quality assurance

Billing Details

• Unused allocation: Converts to profit; does not roll over to the next month
• Overages: Clients must purchase top-ups to maintain service if allocation is exhausted
• Fairness controls: Ticket allocations are enforced consistently; no cross-subsidization between clients

Target Clients

• Small to mid-sized development teams
• Organizations requiring predictable support costs
• Teams needing accountability and measurable service quality
• Businesses seeking expert support without full-time hiring commitments

Example Clients

• Early-stage SaaS companies requiring infrastructure support
• E-commerce platforms needing ongoing maintenance and feature development
• Mobile app development teams requiring backend API support
• Digital agencies managing multiple client projects

2. Professional Training Courses

Summary

Structured technical training courses delivered monthly, covering practical skills and industry best practices. Designed for developers, technical professionals, and teams seeking to upskill efficiently.

Billing Model

• Standard price: $200 per attendee
• Guild member discount: $150 per attendee (25% discount)
• Course frequency: Two courses per month
• Cohort size: Six attendees per course
• Instructor compensation: 90% of course revenue ($2,160 per month total)

How It Works

1. Courses are scheduled twice per month on relevant technical topics
2. Each course accommodates up to six attendees for personalized instruction
3. Guild members receive a 25% discount on all courses
4. Courses are delivered by qualified instructors who receive 90% of revenue
5. Topics align with market demand and member professional development goals

Billing Details

• Payment: Due upon registration
• Cancellation policy: To be defined based on operational needs
• Group discounts: Available for teams registering multiple attendees (to be defined)

Target Audience

• Independent developers seeking to expand their skill set
• Development teams requiring upskilling in specific technologies
• Career changers entering the technology field
• Guild members pursuing certification and advancement

Example Topics

• Cloud infrastructure and deployment (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Modern frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Angular)
• Backend development and API design
• DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
• Security best practices and vulnerability assessment
• Database design and optimization

3. Developer's Guild Membership

Summary

An annual professional membership for independent technical professionals, providing access to certification pathways, career development resources, discounted training, and a community of practice.

Billing Model

• Annual fee: $100 per member
• New member target: Two new members per month
• Revenue recognition: Upfront ($200 per month in new membership revenue)

Included Benefits

• Access to the grading and certification system (Bronze to Platinum tiers)
• 25% discount on all professional training courses ($150 vs $200)
• Professional development roadmap and career guidance
• Eligibility to accept client support tickets (compensation paid from client allocations)
• Access to member community, networking events, and resource sharing
• Priority access to new course offerings and workshops

How It Works

1. Developers apply for membership and pay the $100 annual fee
2. Members are assessed and assigned an initial grading tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
3. Members gain access to training discounts, certification pathways, and ticket opportunities
4. Members can advance through grading tiers based on performance, certifications, and ratings
5. Membership renews annually

Billing Details

• Payment: Annual fee paid upfront
• Renewal: Members are notified 30 days before expiration
• Refund policy: To be defined based on operational needs

Target Members

• Independent contractors and freelance developers
• Technical professionals seeking career advancement
• Developers interested in continuous learning and certification
• Individuals looking to join a professional community

Eligibility

• Demonstrated technical competency (assessed during application)
• Commitment to professional development and quality standards
• Alignment with CoE values of transparency, accountability, and collaboration

Revenue Diversification

The Centre of Excellence revenue model is intentionally diversified across three streams:

This diversification provides stability and aligns incentives across clients, members, and the Centre of Excellence organization.

Consistency with Business Model

All offerings align with the Centre of Excellence mission to provide:

1. Transparent pricing: Every offering has clear, upfront costs
2. Quality accountability: Ratings, escalations, and grading ensure service quality
3. Professional development: Training and certification support career growth
4. Fair value exchange: Clients and members receive measurable value for their investment
5. Scalable delivery: Offerings are designed to scale from 2 to 8+ clients and beyond

For detailed financial projections and business model context, see the Jan–Jul Business Plan.

Pipeline Notes

The following enhancements are under consideration for future releases:

• Tiered support packages: Multiple retainer levels (Basic, Professional, Enterprise) with varying ticket allocations
• On-demand consulting: Hourly or project-based consulting outside the retainer model
• Corporate training packages: Customized training programs for enterprise clients
• Advanced certifications: Industry-recognized certification programs for Guild members
• Platform integrations: API access and integrations with popular project management tools
• White-label services: Offering CoE services under client branding for agencies and consultancies

These pipeline items will be prioritized based on client demand, member feedback, and operational capacity.